RECENTLY, the president of Pakistan addressed the joint sitting of parliament. It was a rare sight to see the entire hall almost empty. Other than a few parliamentarians and some visitors sitting in the back seats, there was nobody else.

What did the president achieve during his hour-and-a-half long speech to an almost empty house? Only he can tell us about the purpose of such an address to an almost empty parliament. I wonder what fun he had in addressing vacant chairs and a deserted hall. I am sure he knew in advance about what the scene was going to be, and yet he came to deliver the address.

The whole episode was indicative of the lack of trust and coordination between the government and the opposition.

Since the president happens to be from the opposition party, he had to face such an ignominy. But he could, probably should, have avoided the humiliation by choosing to skip the event, or at least shortening the length of his misery.

Cdre (retd) Sajjad Ali Shah Bokhari
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2022